Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes dies aged 44

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of our friend, Jon Brookes, the drummer with The Charlatans.

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of our friend, Jon Brookes, the drummer with The Charlatans.

Jon was a founding member of The Charlatans, who formed in the West Midlands, UK in the late 1980s. He passed away peacefully in hospital this morning, with his family at his bedside, aged 44 years old.

Since suffering a seizure on tour in Philadelphia in 2010, Jon battled courageously, positively and with dignity whilst undergoing operations and treatment for a brain tumour. He suffered a relapse in September 2012 and although he continued to work on new material with the band over the summer of 2013 he underwent a further operation in July 2013.

A statement from The Charlatans reads: “Jon was a brilliant drummer, an inspiration, a founding member of The Charlatans, part of our family and a friend to everyone in and around the band. Losing someone who was always so full of life is a tragedy that will be shared by so many. Our thoughts are with Debbie and all of Jon’s family.”

Jon was brilliant, a fun loving soul, who loved drumming, the joys of life and being in a rock band. He is much loved by those who knew him and regarded as one of the finest drummers of his generation.